Circuit-closing device or switch for use in connection with electric or other railways.



W. GRUNOW, J11. CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE 0R SWITCH FOR USE IN CONNECTIONWITH ELECTRIC OR OTHER RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 10, 1911.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. L i r @LJQ da 15 W. GRUNOW, In. CIRCUIT! CLOSING DEVICE 0R SWITCH FORUSE IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRIC OR OTHER.

RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

1,040,941; v Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

4 BHEETS-BHEET 8.

W. GRUNOW, Jn. CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE 0R SWITCH FOR USE IN CONNECTIONWITH ELECTRIC OR OTHER RAILWAYS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

, 1,040,941 Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I I 1 I l I k l I I 1 sw m o wamf,

W. GRUNOW, JR.

CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE 0B. SWITCH F APPLICATION IILED MAY 10, 1911.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912 4 BHEET8SHEET 4.

STATES Plillllhlhlill tllllhfiitltt.

WILLIAM GRUNOW, .JR., OF WATERBUEY, CONNECTICUT, .ASSIGNOB T0 AMERICANRAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION 03? CONNECTICUT.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING DEVICE 0R SYVITCH FOR USE IN CONNECTION 71TH ELECTRIC 0ROTHER BAILVIAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 10, 1:). Serial No. 626,312.

Patented Pct it, 19122.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Gnunow, J12, a citizen of the United States,and resident of lVaterbury, county of New Haven, and State ofConnecticut, have made a new i and useful Invention in Circuit-ClosingDe any other electric translating device when a car passes a given polntand in such manner as to be operative, no matter in which direction norat what speed the car may be moving. To th1s end it is particularly d1-rooted to improvements upon an invention disclosed 1n a'prior patentgranted to Roy C. Cram, Charles L. Graves and myself on the 16th day ofJuly, 1907, and numbered 860,532, and it has for its objects: First, toprovide a switch of the type indicated which shall be simpler in itsconstruction, more practical in its operation and more durable under allconditions of usage than was the device disclosed in thebefore-mentioned patent. Second, to'provide a switch of the typeindicated in which the feature of main.- taining the circuit closed fora predeten mined time, when a car is passing in either direction, shallbe more assuredly effected and by purely mechanical devices, in that theuse of a liquid is absolutely avoided in the present instance, a featurewhich constitutes one of the essential elements of the before-mentionedinvention. Third, to effectually locate and arrange all of the operativeparts in a water-tight switch box so that such parts are concentrated ina most.

compact form within the box, and also that said box may be carrieddirectly by the trolley wire and sustained thereby with the leastpossible danger of being seriously damaged, either by the rapid movementof a car or by extraneous effects, such as wind,

rain, and sleet storms. Fourth, to provide a switch of this nature inwhich access to all of'the parts may be quickly and easily had, forinspection orfor repairs in the event. of possible damage thereto.Fifth, to

provide a switch of the typerefer-red to having all of the essentialcharacteristics which necessarily flow from the compact, rigid andmecluinically good arrangement of all or the parts as disclosed in thedrawlugs and as hereinafter pointed out in the specification.

For a full and clear understanding of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to construct and use the same. reference ishad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is aside'elevutional view illictrating the exterior portion of the switchbox and attachments which inclose my novel switch and also itsattachment to a trolley wire, the two conductors to which the terminalsare adapted to be connected by the switching parts of the apparatusbeing illustrated as entering the box and as broken oil at theiroutgoing ends. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through thebox and the apparatus on the broken line X--X, Fig. 8 and as seenlooking thereat from left to right in the direction of the arrows andupon the supposition that the lid is imposition upon said box, theconductors which enter the box being detached. Fig. 3 is a plan view ot'the interior of the box illustrating the entire operative apparatus ofthe switch. Fig. 4; is a longitudinal sectional view taken through thebox. and the apparatus on the line Y----Y Fig. 3, and upon thesupposition that the lid in place, the trolley wire and part 01'' theapparatus being shown in side clevational view. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview taken through Fig. 3 on the line Z Z and upon the supposition thatthe lid or cover is open, the switch arm or lever and other features ofthe device being shown in elevational view. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailview of one oi the retatable circuit controlling disks illustrating alsoits yielding or spring attachments, the supporting means of the dislcbeing shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in all of which like letters andnumerals of reference represent like parts wherever used, all of theoperative parts of: the apparatus being shown in full working size, 1reprecured to the box by two hinges 3, 3.

.ing designed to secure the twoinsulating conductors 6, 6, at theirpoints of entrance into the box wherein they are connected to theswitching terminals, as will be described later on.

7, 7, represent side lugs cast integral-with the box for attachingguy-wires thereto running to stationar points of support, as poles ortrees, W ereby the boxand the trolley wire will be protected, as far aspossible, from violent vibrations and the box held vertically above thewire, as shown.

8, 8, represent extensions or lugs provided with holes extendin throughboth for securing the lid when it is closed to one of the lugs 7 throughthe agency of a lockingpin 10 extending also through a hole 9 in the lug7, such an arrangement making it possible, by virtue of the over-hangingnature of the lid 01'' cover, to effectually protect the entireapparatus from the evil effects of inclement weather.

11 represents the trolley wire and 12, 12 are two metallic trolley wireears of well known form which are grooved in their lower edges andsecured to the trolley wire in the Well known manner by swaging themtherearound; or by soldering or brazing them thereto or both, as clearlyillustrated at the lower part of Fig. 5. These trolley ears are, as iswell understood, practically angular in cross section and in their upperends are screw-threaded bolt holes for receiving the bolts 13, 18 so asto thereby secure t e entire box and its inclosed apparat'usdirectly to'and above the trolley wire, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

14, 14 represent dependent walls which are cast integral with the boxand taken to gether are of angular entering. conforma tion as thetrolley wheel approaches in either dircction when it passes under thebox. These dependent walls also have inward extensions at their loweredges as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to protect the lower partof the apparatus from the evil effects of inclement weather, the entirestructural arrangement being such as to offer the least possibleopposition to the free movement of the trolley-wheel between thedependent walls.

15, 15 are inward extensions at the bottom I of the box proper,constituting the means of support for such of the operative parts as arepractically stationary and also for the insulation of such parts.

(see Fig. 1) after all of the parts are as? sembled. I

18 represents a metallic sleeve which is rotatably ournaied upon theshaft 16 and providcd0n its lower and upper sides with integral or cars19, 19 and 19, 19' respectively, the lower set of lugs or ears beingslotted in the direction of the axis of the shaft 16, as clearly shownin Fig. 4, for the purpose of supporting the operating arm or lever 20which is grooved at its lower end as shown for permitting itto extend adefinite distance below the trolley wire 11 and on opposite sidesthereof. Anoiling hole is provided at he center and upper side of thesleeve 18 for the purpose of affording lubrication between the sleeveand the shaft.

21, 21 are rotatable metallic disks constituting electrical terminals,the hubs 21 2 1 of which are journaled upon the shaft 16 and on oppositesides of the arm or lever 20 and its supporting sleeve 18, the hubsabutting against the ends of said sleeve.

22, 22 represent circuit breaking notches. or spaces in the periphery ofthe two conducting disks 21, 21 and located, when the disks are inposition in direct slinenieut with each other, their function being toleave the-circuitof the terminals normally w broken, as will bedescribed in connection with the description of the mode of opera tion.

23, 23 are lugs located on the inner faces of the disks 21, 21, and onopposite sides respectively of the lugs 19 19 as is clearly indicated inFig. 5, by virtue of the sectional and dotted lines respectively.

24, 24 are stops cast integral with "he innerfaces of the metallic disks21, 21 and near the outer surface thereof, their function being to stopthe disks from rotating when they come into mechanical contact withstationary stops 25, 25 located respectively at the opposite ends of thebox and secured directly to the inward bottom extensions 15, 15. 4

26, 26 are braking disks having plane faces on one side adapted to bearfrictionally against the outer faces of the rotatable metallic terminaldisks 21, 21 and journaled upon the hubs 21 21 of said disks.

27, 27am spring washers adapted to yieldingly hold the friction disks26, 26 with their friction faces against the outer faces of the disks21, 21. I

28, 28 are nuts secured upon the outer ends of the hubs 21 21 with theirinner faces so adjusted in engagement with the spring washers 27 as togive the proper frictional relation between the braking disks, orinertia devices 26, 26 and the rotatable disks 21, 21, said nuts beinglocked respectively,,by pins p, p, when properly adjusted. 29, 29 arespiral springs having their inner ends secured directly to the nuts 28,28 by set-screws 30, 30 and their outer ends, after having been placedunder proper tension, secured to the inner walls creasing of the box byscrew-clamps 31, 31 the turned over ends of the wires being ofsufficient length, as shown in Fig. 6, to give proper tensile strength,it being understood that these springs, when under stress, tend to Irotate vthe terminal disks with their friction disks in reversedirection.

32, 32 are blocks of insulating material, preferably of hard rubber,secured to the upper surface of the inward extensions 15,

15 of the box by screws and constituting means of support for the fixedterminals 33, 33 located at opposite ends of the box. These fixedterminals 33, 33 are connected respectively, as will be apparent onin'spection of Fig. 3 of the drawings, to the outgoing conductors, 6, 6,the one running to a signal located say at a distance in the rear andadapted to be released by a current passing therethrough, and the otherrunning say a definite distance in front and adapted to set a signal.

34, 34 represent yielding conducting terminals pivotally supported atthe tops of the fixed terminals and provided with ad- 35 justing screwsfor adjusting their free rectangular ends 35 with relation to theconducting surfaces of the disks 21, it being apparent that both ofthese rectangular ends are located, when the switch is normal, ex-

40 actly in the middle of the air spaced insulating notches 22, 22 abovethe disks so that the circuit is broken in all directions.

It will be apparent, particularly on inspection of Fig. 4 of thedrawings, that when the switch is in normal position the arm or lever 20hangs vertically with its lower end in the path of a trolley wheel as itis moved in either direction under the trolley wire 11, and also, asbefore stated,

that the circuit is broken between the trolley wire and the yieldingterminals 34., 3a, be

cause of the fact that their rectangular ends are out of contact withthe disks 2.1, 21. It

will also be understood that the entire box 1, its lid or cover 2, itsdependent walls 14, and the ears 12, 12 are normally charged directly bythe current in the trolley wire. Upon the supposition, therefore, thatproper adjustment has been effected with relation to' the frictionalbearing between the faces of the disks 21, 21 and 26 26 and the properstress effect placed upon the springs 29, 29,

so that they tend to rotate the disks 26, 26

in opposite directions, I have provided a means for efiecting a definitetime element;

that is to say, a definite'timc for which the circuit must be closedthrough either of the yielding terminals 34, 34, no matter in whichdirection the car may be traveling, or what the speed thereof. In theoperation of my invention, a slowly traveling car will impart arelatively slow rotation to the disk 21, thereby permitting the latterto overcomethe inertia of its frictionally-engaged disk 26 and carry thelatter around with it; the relatively small kinetic energy of suchslowly moving disks being quickly absorbed by the spring 29 upondisengagement of the arm 20 from the moving car. On the other hand, arapidly moving car will rotate the disk 21 at such high speed that itwill be unable to overcome the inertia of the disk 26 by its frictionalengagement withthe latter. and the disk 21. will, therefore,- rotatemore or less independently of said disk 26. During such forwardrotations at s eeds sulliciently low to permit rotation o the combineddisks 21 and 26 as a single mass, the disk 21 will be shifted at lowvelocity through a relatively small angle, while higher velocities ofthe disk 21 will cause independentrotation of the latter at higherspeeds and through larger angles; the pe riod, or length of time, of allsuch forward rotations of the combined disk 21 and 26 as a single massbeing practically constant, and the similar periods of all independentrotations of the disk 21 at higher speeds bcing constant and slightlyless than the rotativo period of the combined disks. The relativelysmall angular swing of the combined disks 21 and 26 as a sing] massplaces the spring 29 under a relatively low tension, which causes saidspring to return said disk to normal position in definite constantperiods of time; the independent swing of the disk 21 through largerangles placing the spring 29 under greater tension and causing saidspring to return the disks to normal position in definite constantperiods of time slightly larger than the return period of'said diskswhen forwardly rotated as a single mass through lesser angles. Myinvention, therefore, provides a compact and simple construction adaptedto act with certainty 115 to maintain the circuit closed through adefinite constant period of time under all prac tical conditions.

I do not. limit my invention to the especial details of constructiondisclosed in the accompanying drawings, as obviously a number of thedetails thereof might be tlcparted from and still come within the scopeof my claims hereinafter made, the essence of my invention lying in theperfection of a circuit controlling device of the type indicated inwhich a constant time interval is effected solely through the agency ofmechanically impelled devices, such as are d sclosed in thebefore-mentioned patent, 130

and my claims are generic as to this feature; also as to the features ofgeneral utility pointed out in the statements of the objects ofinvention.

I believe it is broadly new with me to provide means in the nature offrictional brake surfaces so interrelated and so 0peractively connectedto the switch box or base that the evil eiiects of undue momentum areovercome and a relatively constant time element obtained.

Having thus describeduny invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is-" 1. A normally open circuitprovided with a movable terminal, in ,t-combination With,

- resilient means tending to maintain said movable terminal in normal,open position, means for shifting said terminal to closed positionagainst the tension of said resilient means, and a}'freely-supportedinertia device frictionally engaging said movable terminal, where ycsaidcircuit will be closed for definite, constant periodsof time under allpractical conditions.

2. A normally open circuit provided with a movable terminal, incombination with means for-shifting said movable terminal to close -thecircuit, and a freely-supported inertia device frictionallyengaging saidmovable terminal.

3. A normally open circuit provided with a movable terminal,incombination with means for shifting said movable terminal to close thecircuit, a freely-supported inertia device frictionally engaging saidmovable terminal, and resilient means engaging said movable terminal foryieldingly maintaining the latter in open position.

4. A normally open circuit provided with a movable terminal, incombination with means for shifting said movable terminal t-o-close thecircuit, a freely supported inertia device, yielding means formaintaining said device in frictional engagement with said movableterminal, and means for adjusting said yielding means.

5. In a circuit-closing switch, the combination of stationary andmovable terminals, resilient means tending to normally maintain saidmovable terminals in open position, means for shifting said movableterminals against the tension of-said re silient means to close thecircuit, and an inertiadevice mounted for free movement in frictionalengagement with said movable terminal, whereby said circuit will beclosed for definite, constant periods of time under all practicalconditions.

6. In a circuit-closing switch, the combination of stationary andmovable terminals, means for shifting said movable terminal to close thecircuit, and an inertia de vice mounted or free movement in frictionalen 'a ement with saidmovahle ter- Witnesses C. J. Kmrnna, M. F. KEATING.

